The cover / motivation letter

A cover letter enables you to express your interest in the specific company that you are applying for, without repeating the information that you have already used on your CV resume. You can draw on a few aspects of your CV such as work experience but do not ramble.

Your cover letter allows the company to see your written ability to communicate and can ever highlight aspects of your personality. The cover letter is unique; make the most out of it and use it to capture the attention of the employer. After reading our advice see the cover letter example.

What should the cover letter include?

Greeting: Address the potential employer who may eventually hire you. Take extra care with the spelling of his or her name, and the name of the company.

Introduction: Cover letters are a way to “sell yourself”, they’re made to catch the attention of the employer. Make a presentation and explain the goal of the letter: why you’re interested in that company, area and position in particular. Research the company and use that knowledge to highlight why you are perfect for the position. Mention projects in development, recent awards or positive comments you may have read about it. If you’re answering an ad, this is where you should mention it.

Body of the letter: You should make the best out of this part of the letter to show the enterprise what you’ve got to offer and why they should hire you. So, here you can tell them about your achievements, experience, skills and abilities that are useful for the position.

Closure: You can’t get what you haven’t asked for. Suggest an interview. Be creative, don’t use the typical “I’ll be waiting for your call”. Offer to call and arrange a meeting, not an interview. Make a proposal. Finish with a compliment, followed by your signature. You can also include your phone number, just in case. Remember, if you are addressing a known name, use Yours Sincerely, and if not, Yours faithfully.